A Haywards Heath resident said van break-ins are ‘rife’ in the district and are ‘destroying people’s lives’.

Peter Stevenson, 57, of Vale Road, Haywards Heath, told the Middy he wants other people to be aware of the ‘epidemic in the area’.

Simon Hancock, owner of plumbing business SA Hancock Ltd, who had one of his vans broken into last Tuesday. Picture: Steve Robards

He said: “There has been a series of break-ins to tradesmen’s vans in Mid Sussex and it is an organised crime epidemic.

“I have seen how rife it is and stolen tools are being sold on Facebook, at car boot sales and on eBay.

“It is happening due to the lack of police. My father was an old-school police officer, so that is why I care about it. Police have not got the resources to deal with it now.

“One van is broken into every 23 minutes in this country. Ford vans can be opened in seconds with a skeleton key available openly on the internet. It’s costing the economy between £50-£100 million each year.

“Tradesmen are being targeted on building sites, builders merchants car parks, on customers driveways during the day and at night at their homes.

“And it happens more than once – as the thieves know people will have had to replace the tools with new ones. But the police do not have the manpower to investigate even if you find your tools being sold online.

“It is destroying lives and is becoming a war, there have been demonstrations about it across the country.

“The people doing it are professionals and they have no fear as the chances of getting caught are minimal.”

Mr Stevenson, a bedroom, home and office fitter, who drives a van, was a victim of theft 15 years ago and said the law ‘needs to change’ to prevent further thefts.

“If it was made harder for people to sell second-hand tools, like having to show proof of ownership, that would help,” he said.

“For tradesmen, it is their livelihood, that feeds their family and keeps a roof over their heads.”